Siphon inlet



March 14, 1944- R. WILLIAM-SON SYPHONINLET Filed Sept. 6, 1940 INVENTOR. ,LARKIN R WILLIAMSON BY%' a7 ATTORNEYS. 2

Patented Mar. 14, 1944 SIPHON INLET Larkin R. Williamson, Brooklyn, N. Y., assignor to H. H. Pinney, Cleveland, Ohio Application September 6, 1940, Serial No. 355,650 I i 2 Claims. (Cl. 122-68) This invention relates to an inlet for'a locomotive siphon, preferably of the flat, hollow substantially triangular type. In the field of locomotive boilers, it is customary to employ one or more siphonic elements for increasing circulation of wate within the barrel of the boiler.

to be bumpy and set up greater tension, compres-.

sion and torsional forces in the aforesaid "elements thereby augmenting the said relative move} ment. 7

' Siphons of the type above identified terminate in a neck or inlet which is considerably weaker than the body or main portion of the siphon. Normally the top of the siphon is rigidly connected by stay-boltingor welding to the crown sheet and the neck is similarly connected to the throat. It has been suggestedthat a diaphragm be inserted in the inner throat sheet and the neck open through and be connected to the diaphragm as per above. But either of these methods sets up unduly great forces in the neck, the latter frequently fracturing and necessitating expensive replacement or repairs.

Most of such forces are rendered ineffective by incorporation of the principal features of this invention, because this invention permits slight universal movement of the neck with respect to the throat through which the former opens. According to this invention, the neck projects through an opening in the throat, which opening is longer than the neck and exteriorly adjustable and replaceable packing means are provided between the neck and such opening. Thus the forces within the neck are reduced to practically negligible magnitude.

Accordingly, the primary objects of this invention have been to provide an exteriorly replaceable and adjustable inlet means for a siphon neck so as to permit slight universal movement of the atter. 1 To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, said invention, then, consists of the means hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims; the annexed drawing and the following description setting forth in detail certain structure constituting however, but one of various means in which the principle of the invention may be used.

In said annexed drawing:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary longitudinal crosssectional view of a locomotive boiler having incorporated therein the principal features of this invention;

Fig. 2 is a cross-section taken on the line 2-'-2 of Fig.1; and a Fig. 3 is a cross-section taken on of-Fig. 2.

The locomotive boiler seen in Fig. 1 comprises a barrel l6 having an outer throat sheet II and the line 3-3' enclosed firebox having a crown sheet [2, a back fine sheet l3 and'an inner throat sheet l4. Disposed within the firebox and opening through the I crown sheet is a siphon indicated generally by the reference character I1. I The siphon is a flat substantially triangular hollow pocket provided with a neck Hi. The neck may be integral with, welded, or otherwise secured to the body of the siphon. e

As is seen in Fig. 2 the neck projects through the inner throat sheet I4 and terminates in the throat or between the inner and the outer throat sheets. The opening of the inner throat sheet through which the neck projects is considerably larger than the neck and accommodates a cuplike element 20 which is provided with an apertured flange 2| through which the neck projects. The aperture of this flange, seen at 22, is larger than the neck so that the neck may move with respect thereto. Suitable means such as weldingmay be employed for securing the element 20 flush with the inner throat sheet. Another cuplike element 24 projects through and is smaller than an opening 23 of the outer throat sheet and fits snugly within the cup-like element 20. Thus, these cup-like elements 20 and 24 present a cage in which the neck terminates. The diameter of the inner surface 25 of the element 24 is somewhat larger than the neck.

The upper portion of the cup-like element 26 is provided with a plurality of circumferentially spaced axially extending slots 26 through which the water is drawn into the neck of the siphon and the lower portion thereof serves as a mud gathering pocket. Packing 21 is interposed between the flange M and the front face 28 of the cup-like element 24 and prevents leakage. The

front face 28 is tapered inwardly so as to properly compress the packing.

For urging the two cup-like elements toward each other and consequently insuring a good seal, means adjustable from the exterior of the boiler are provided and will now be described. Covering the opening 23 is an annular cap 30, the outer portion or periphery 3| of which is displaced rearwardly so as to space the body portion thereof from the outer throat sheet ll. Suitable means such as stay bolting 32 may be provided'for interconnecting the throat sheets and the cap 30. The body portion of the cap is. provided with a centrally disposed opening 33 "preferably of the same sizc'as. the diameter of.

the opening 23.

The opening 33 is closed, by a cover. plate 35 which is suitably removably bolted as at 36' to the cap 30, and provided with a threaded opening therethrou gh. Engaged within this plate is a bolt 38 which is provided with a head 39. This bolt projects inwardly through the opening 33 and engages'the bottom 'of the cup-like element 24 ,for urging the latter toward the cup-like element 20. For maintaining the bolt in any desired adjusted position a lock nut M is provided. Thus the opening 22 is sealed and the neck properly positioned with respect to such opening- It is to be noted that the openings 23 and 3.3 are larger than the diameter of the cup-like element 24 so that by removal of the bolts 36 and consequently the plate 35, the cup-like element 24 and the packing are readily replaceable. It. also to be noted that replacement of such elements and adjustment thereof are accomplished from the exterior of the boiler. Due to the packing means,- the free projection of the neck through the apertures, 22 and 25 intothe cuplike element 20 andalso due to the free projection of the cup-like element 24 into the opening 23, it will be seen that the inlet is flexible, not rigid, is. slightly universally movable within limits, and, will cushion many of the forces set up in the siphon.

Other modes of applying the principle of my invention may be employed instead of the one explained, changebeing made as regards the structure herein disclosed, provided the means rigidly secured to said throat, said siphon having a neck universally movably projecting into said throat and through said bottom, another cup-like element projecting into said throat and 1 having the lip thereof adapted for telescoping Fir with said first-named cup-like element, packing means: interposed between said elements, one'of said elements having an intake, and means disposed exteriorly of said throat for urging one of said elements toward the other.

-2-. A locomotive boiler having a firebox and a throat comprising inner and outer throat sheets, the innerv of which is provided. with an aperture, a cup-like element including a bottom flange projecting through. said aperture, the lip of said element. being disposed in said throat between said" sheets, the axial portion of said element being secured to said inner sheet, and the bottom flange of said element having an opening, '1 siphon in said firebox and provided with a neck of outer diameter smaller than the diameter of said opening and projecting through said openin the outer of said sheets having an aperture, another cup-like element of outer diameter I smaller than the diameter of said last-named aperture, thev lips of said cups being adapted for telescoping whereby a cage is presented, said neck terminating in said cage and being of a diameter smaller than the inner diameter of said cage, packing interposed between said neck and said cups, a cap for sealing said first-named aperture, and a screw projecting through said cap and abutting the outer surface of the bottom flange of said other cup-like element for urging said packing against said first-named bottom flange whereby said, neck has universal movement with respect to said throat and fluid is sealed against seepage between the walls of said first-named aperture and. said neck.

LARKIN R. WILLIAMSON. 

